The Purge 4: The Origins, the prequel that chronicles the experimentation behind the very first Purge, arrives on Netflix on October 5, 2026. Directed by Gerard McMurray, the film returns to the early days of the regime conceived by the New Founding Fathers.
In an America ruled by a new political party, Dr. May Updale advances a controversial plan to curb crime: allow all crimes—including murder—for a 12-hour window.
This initial trial is limited to Staten Island. Residents can leave the area before it starts, while those who choose to stay will receive financial compensation. Additional incentives are offered to participants who actively engage in the violence.
Nya, an activist opposed to the project, chooses to stay on the island to safeguard her neighborhood. Her former partner Dmitri quickly realizes the experiment isn’t unfolding as planned. With spontaneous violence failing to materialize, the organizers deploy armed squads to turn the operation into a political show of force.
Released in cinemas in 2018, The First Purge is directed by Gerard McMurray from a screenplay by James DeMonaco, the franchise creator and director of its first three films. This fourth installment is thus the first feature in the saga that he did not personally helm.
The ensemble features Y’lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, Steve Harris, Marisa Tomei, Patch Darragh and Luna Lauren Vélez. Clocking in at 1h38, the film is produced by Blumhouse Productions and Platinum Dunes.
Unlike the previous installments, this film does not pick up the story of American Nightmare 3: Elections where it left off. It travels back to before the events of American Nightmare to explain how a local experiment became a nationwide institution.
The film thus completes the Netflix lineup, arriving on the same day alongside American Nightmare 2: Anarchy, American Nightmare 3: Elections, and American Nightmare 5: No Limits.
American Nightmare 4: Origins will be available on Netflix starting from October 5, 2026.
To discover the month’s other new releases, check out our guide to Netflix releases in October 2026, our guide to streaming releases across all platforms, and today’s streaming pick: What to watch today in streaming.
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